peice of ribbon is 48 inches?

Question

a piece of ribbon is 48 inches long is cut into two pieces so that one piece is one-third as long as the other. Find the length of each piece.

Answer 1

Let's assume the one piece cut into x inch thus the smaller piece must (x/3) inch and both of them constitute 48 inch

Thus,

x+(x/3)=48

=> (3x+x)/3=48 ..........adjusting operators

=>4x/3= 48 ..........adjusting operators

=>4x= 48*3 ........... multiplying both sides by 3

=>x=(48*3)/4..........dividing both sides by 4

=>x=36

Hence x/3 inch =12 inch

 

Therefore each pieces are respectively 36 inches and 12 inches long.

Answer 2

let x and 3x be the two lengths

x+3x=48

4x=48

x=48/4

x=12 inches

3x=3*12=36 inches

you could use x and (1/3)x

x+(1/3)x=48

(4/3)x=48

multiply both sides by 3/4

(3/4)(4/3)(x)=(3/4)(48)

x=3*12=36   (48/4=12) or 3*48/4=144/4=36

x=36 and  (1/3)x=(1/3)36=12

12 in and 36 in are the lengths